A few weeks ago I had the good fortune of experiencing two of those moments were things slow down and, for a split second, line up in such a way that clarity and understanding can be had.

The first came during mile 24.5 of the 26.2 with DONNA marathon my wife and I decided to participate in.

Due to it being my first marathon, and a lack of proper training, I was struggling. I mean I was a hot mess. Words were coming out of my mouth that I didn’t even know I knew. Yet, all through it, there was my bride running WITH ME, cheering me on, encouraging me to keep going.

You see, this was her second time running the race, so she was mentally prepared for these final few miles and the difficulty they can present to a tired worn out mind and body. Also, due to her previous experience running the race, she knew the great joy that awaited us at the Mayo clinic finish line, as well as the overwhelming satisfaction of completing such a challenging task.

So it was from this place of knowing that she was able to channel such encouragement and grace for me, even when I was at my worst. She could have easily run ahead and finished the race with a much better time, but she didn’t, despite my encouragements to do so. Instead she chose to run with me, and it was because of her support that I was able to keep running the race and finish.

I’ll never forget the great feeling of love and appreciation that flooded my heart and mind for her as we finished side-by-side. It was amazing!

The second experience came just a few days later when two of my kids were trying to encourage their younger cousin to join them at the top of a large dirt hill. Their cousin had started climbing up the hill with them, but when he got halfway he stopped because he was too caught in fear to go any further. No matter how hard Judah and Eisley tried to assure him that he could do it, he simply could not/would not move. It was an awesome thing to watch as Judah and Eisley tried ever type of motivational tactic they could think of. For the top of the hill they rained down encouragements, shouting his name, saying: “Liam, you can do it! It so beautiful up here, you have to see it! You can do it!”

Finally, when it became clear he wasn’t going to move, both Judah and Eisley climbed down to where he was at, grabbed his hand, and walked him up the hill, encouraging him all the way up. I’m telling you, it was such a beautiful thing to witness. All three of their little faces lighting up with excitement, love, and accomplishment after they had reached the top.

And this is what struck me about these experiences.

In both cases, the love, encouragement, and support that was offered to me and Liam, at our most desperate state, was a love that was generated by what they knew of the joy that awaited us; if we could only just believe and journey towards it. The hope they offered was a hope they themselves were in possession of, and they best part is that they weren’t content with going on ahead and keeping to themselves. Neither were they content with leaving us behind, shouting from a far off place unsympathetic demands to believe and muster on.

No, they chose to take the joy they knew and bring that alongside of us. They chose to fight for us when we couldn’t do it ourselves, hoping that the time would come when we would wake up and believe the good news they had come to believe.

As I reflect on these experiences I become greatly aware that this is what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It doesn’t mean to stand on the mountaintop, or finish line, and look down on those who haven’t yet made it.

No, it means taking what we’ve come to know of Jesus’ love, grace, and power, and sharing it with those who are hurting, broken, and worn out.

It means coming alongside those journeying towards Christ and encouraging them to keep going.

It means being a proclaimer and demonstrator of God’s good news to a world that desperately needs some good news.